Trump claims Xi sent him invitation to China

(MENAFN) US President Donald Trump revealed that Chinese President Xi Jinping invited him and First Lady Melania Trump to Beijing during a 90-minute phone call on Thursday, aimed at easing rising trade tensions between the two economic superpowers.

Chinese state media first reported the conversation, which Trump later confirmed on Truth Social, calling it a “very good phone call” that focused “almost entirely” on trade issues. Trump said he reciprocated Xi’s invitation, expressing mutual interest in a future state visit.

Trump’s last official trip to China occurred in November 2017. Xi’s most recent visit to the US was in November 2023 for a trade summit, though his last formal state visit happened under President Obama in 2015.

This was the first direct conversation between the two leaders since Trump returned to the White House. It came after renewed trade friction earlier this year when Trump imposed sweeping tariffs on imports from over 90 countries, including China. Beijing retaliated with tariffs of its own, escalating duties on US goods to 125%, while the US raised Chinese tariffs to 145%.

A tentative truce was reached on May 12 in Geneva, with both sides agreeing to pause tariff hikes for 90 days and maintain a 10% baseline duty on imports. However, the agreement has shown signs of strain, with both countries accusing each other this week of violating its terms.

China’s Foreign Ministry criticized recent US restrictions on chip exports, labeling them as “harmful extreme measures” and warning against “coercion” in international relations.

Trump said that US and Chinese negotiators would meet soon at a yet-to-be-determined location. The American delegation will include Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

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